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August 14, 2008

University Hospitals Receives $22.6 Million Donation From Harrington and McLaughlin Families

by Sam Savage

CLEVELAND, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- University Hospitals has received one of the largest financial gifts in its 143-year history -- a $22.6 million donation from well-known Northeast Ohio philanthropists, the Harrington and McLaughlin families. The donation, believed to be among the largest in the country given to a cardiovascular institute, is unique in that it is earmarked for the development of innovative technologies and clinical advancements for the early diagnosis and prevention of heart disease.

"This extraordinary gift from the Harrington and McLaughlin families will be invested in developing significant new breakthroughs in preventing and treating heart disease," said Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of University Hospitals. "This gift will enhance our ability to continue to attract internationally and nationally known cardiovascular experts to Cleveland to join our renowned Heart & Vascular Institute. It is with great pride that we accept this gift and establish the University Hospitals Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institute. It truly represents our mission -- To Heal, To Teach and To Discover -- which influences everything that we do."

Mr. Zenty announced this historic gift to more than 300 guests, comprised of members of the Cleveland community, physicians, donors and board members at the home of Drs. Daniel Simon and Marcy Schwartz in Moreland Hills, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.

"We have personally witnessed the outstanding care and passion that is part of University Hospitals' culture," said Ron Harrington, who along with his wife Nancy Harrington, their daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Steve McLaughlin, and son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Lydia Harrington, have made this unprecedented gift. "As a family, we want our philanthropic legacy to make a difference. We believe that heart disease can be prevented through a combination of the right physician talent, a desire to improve the quality of life for patients and a focus on innovative new technology and therapies that result in earlier detection. That formula is at UH."

The Harringtons were first introduced to University Hospitals through Dr. Carl Orringer, an expert in preventive cardiology. Dr. Orringer has developed an innovative screening program for assessing the risk of and preventing heart attack called The Early Detection Using Calcium Scoring for Treatment and Elimination of Coronary Heart Disease (EDUCATE). EDUCATE utilizes CT imaging to check for the buildup of calcium in plaque on the walls of the coronary arteries. A portion of the families' gift will be used to honor Dr. Orringer and his extraordinary contributions to the field of cardiovascular medicine.

In honor of Dr. Orringer's commitment to prevention and education, the Harrington and McLaughlin families will also establish an endowed chair at University Hospitals Case Medical Center -- The Harrington-McLaughlin Chair in Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine.

"There is nothing more affirming than when a family, like the Harringtons and McLaughlins, provides such a remarkable commitment to our hospital's vision," said Dr. Simon, who is the Director of the Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institute and Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. "This monumental gift will help to transform the Heart & Vascular Institute for many, many years to come. This amazing testament to our dedicated physicians, nurses and scientists will help us realize our goal of providing the most advanced patient care by leveraging our clinical innovations and will also cement the Harrington and McLaughlin families' philanthropic legacy in University Hospitals' history."

In a collaborative effort with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals recruited Dr. Simon from Harvard Medical School in 2006 to build a premier, multi-disciplinary cardiovascular institute. In a short period of time, Dr. Simon has assembled a formidable team, adding 18 new physicians and clinical researchers to University Hospitals.

"This donation honors Dr. Carl Orringer, for whom we are eternally grateful for extraordinary care," Ron Harrington said. "This donation will also advance the remarkable vision that Dr. Dan Simon has for the Heart & Vascular Institute by investing in innovative programs and facilitating the recruitment of world-class physicians."

The Harrington and McLaughlin families, who reside in Hudson, Ohio, own Edgepark Medical Supplies. Edgepark started as a corner pharmacy in Garfield Heights in 1928 and has since grown to become the nation's leading mail-order provider of medical supplies. The company has taken an active role in the Northeast Ohio community.

"Philanthropy at this level is truly transformational and inspiring," said Monte Ahuja, University Hospitals Chairman, Board of Directors. "Because of the extraordinary generosity of the Harringtons and McLaughlins...lives will be saved."